When disaster is on your doorstep, it is too late to decide what belongings to take with you. The only decision left to make is to leave immediately. As firefighters, we plan, train, and prepare constantly for the gamut of hazardous scenarios we are likely to encounter on the job. A key part of our […]
“Service above self” is at the core of what it means to be a firefighter. At Montecito Fire, we look to our elected Board of Directors as representatives of the community to decide policy issues and set priorities for the Fire District. Our most recent Board President, Peter van Duinwyk, has set an example of […]
One of Montecito’s most time-honored traditions is back for America’s 250th birthday. The Montecito Firefighters’ Association’s annual Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast will kick off at 7 am on Saturday, July 4, at Fire Station 91 – 595 San Ysidro Road. Montecito Fire Engineer/Inspector Billy Wrenn is the lead organizer of the event. “We’re looking […]
Santa Barbara County’s High Fire Season was officially declared on May 25, 2026 – signaling a heightened risk of potentially severe wildfire impacts in our local area. Just days prior to that announcement, a pair of Montecito firefighters deployed to Santa Rosa Island where a vegetation fire quickly grew to more than 16,000 acres – […]
The old adage, “April showers bring May flowers,” is not a complete bed of roses given high fire season predictions on the Santa Barbara County South Coast. Maeve Juarez is a wildland fire specialist with Montecito Fire Department and has been responding to wildfires across the Western United States for the better part of the […]
On April 1, the Montecito Fire Protection District Board of Directors formally appointed Brian Fallon as Fire Chief following Chief David Neels’ retirement on March 31. As Montecito Fire’s Public Information Officer, I sat down with Chief Fallon to learn more about him and what he hopes to accomplish at the helm of our organization. […]
On February 17, Montecito Fire Department placed a new Paramedic Squad unit into service to better serve our community. The new Squad 91 is housed at Station 91 at 595 San Ysidro Road. Squad 91 replaces a 13-year-old unit with more than 75,000 miles. It is staffed daily with two firefighters, including at least one […]
There’s a new buzz in Montecito – foreshadowing warmer, drier days to come. It’s the buzz of a chipping machine turning branches and brush into millions of tiny woodchips. Montecito Fire Department’s Neighborhood Chipping Program is now 17 years running. This year’s program kicked off February 9. The 10-week program will run every other week […]
Each year, our organization’s objectives are to offer a robust level of service within our community, provide regional cooperation, and maintain a focus on wildfire preparedness and organizational development within the Montecito Fire Department. Our personnel remain committed to protecting the community while adapting to evolving risks and operational changes. Throughout the year, Montecito Fire […]
Knowing who to call in an emergency – or any situation where help is needed – can make a significant, and in some cases, lifesaving difference. In the event of an emergency or any need for a response from the Montecito Fire Department, EMS or law enforcement, please remember to dial 911 or send a […]
On November 13, 2008, a wildfire started near a Montecito property known as the Tea Gardens. The Tea Fire was first reported at about 5:45 pm. Strong sundowner winds with gusts up to 85 miles per hour reignited smoldering embers of an illegal bonfire from the night before. At the time, Montecito Fire Marshal and […]
The California Board of Forestry (BOF) is closing in on Governor Gavin Newsom’s December 31 deadline to finalize new regulations that focus on clearing combustible materials within the first five feet of structures. “Montecito Fire Department has been keenly aware and engaged in Zone Zero discussions over the past five years,” said Montecito Fire Chief […]
This month, Santa Barbara County public safety officials are joining together to highlight National Preparedness Month with a countywide theme of “Preparedness Starts with You.” Community members are encouraged to take simple proactive steps to protect themselves, their families, pets, and neighborhoods before the next emergency incident occurs here. “Our community knows firsthand how suddenly […]
Our blue skies and summer sunshine have been mired by smoky, ashy conditions caused by the Gifford Fire burning in northeastern Santa Barbara County. While the fire is a considerable distance from Montecito, the smoky skies trigger visceral memories and even fear for many community members who have lived through wildfires here. We are in […]
There’s no panacea for wildfire. But a multi-tiered approach to building resilience to wildfire by Montecito Fire Department, coupled with the community’s investment in preparedness, is providing priceless returns. As we head into a new month, we’re looking back at recent Wildfire Prevention Programs that incrementally strengthen our ability to combat future wildfire challenges. Neighbors […]
The Montecito Fire Department held a Wildfire Preparedness Community Meeting at Montecito Union School on June 26, less than a week before California’s largest fire of 2025 broke out in Santa Barbara County. Montecito Fire sent an engine and several specially trained personnel to assist with managing the Madre Fire near Cuyama. Evacuations spanned rural […]
Montecito resident Chris Dentzel’s secret to a good night’s sleep is not lavender, chamomile, or any of the usual somnolent suspects you might think of. “I actually sleep a whole lot better,” Dentzel said. “And I know there are more things to do.” The key to Dentzel’s tranquility is evident throughout his thoughtfully designed Sycamore […]
Despite the June gloom that is frequently obscuring our skies, the risk of wildfire looms. In coordination with all fire departments in Santa Barbara County, Montecito Fire Department declared the start of High Fire Season on June 2, 2025. As part of our routine preparation for peak fire season, Montecito Fire Department will host a […]
If you have called 9-1-1 while in Montecito, Carpinteria or Summerland over the last 48 years, you would have been linked to a small but mighty dispatch center located within Montecito Fire Station 91 on San Ysidro Road. The South Coast Dispatch Center provided full-time dispatch services for Montecito Fire Department starting in the fall […]
The recent rain is a welcome reprieve from the dry conditions that aided in propelling the devasting Palisades Fire near Los Angeles and the Eaton Fire in the foothills of Altadena. But this is no time to rest on our laurels. “A few inches of late season rain are not enough to significantly move the […]
We are in the middle of winter. January is not even over, yet over the past three months, we have seen multiple extreme, wind-driven wildfires devastate Southern California communities. The Mountain Fire in Camarillo in November burned nearly 20,000 acres and destroyed over 240 structures. The Franklin Fire in Malibu in December burned 4,000 acres […]
Montecito Fire Department is pleased to present our new website, montecitofire.com. We have revamped our website to better serve our community. This includes a new Wildfire Preparedness StoryMap, a dynamic webpage with informational videos, interactive maps and helpful resources. We developed this StoryMap as an alternative to our Wildfire Preparedness Community meetings. We heard your […]
On Monday, May 6, Montecito Fire Department placed the new Engine 92 into service with the support of more than a hundred community members, including children from Cold Spring School and Montecito Union School. Kids hosed down the engine and dried it off before we ceremoniously pushed it into the apparatus bay at Station 92. […]
Before we close out the first quarter of 2024, Montecito Fire Protection District is pleased to share our 2023 Annual Report to reflect on our successes, challenges, and opportunities to further provide the Montecito community with exceptional service. “This report serves as a comprehensive overview of our department’s achievements and ongoing commitment to ensuring the […]
After a record-setting rain season and months of mild weather, the threat of wildfire may seem like less of a concern for the Santa Barbara County South Coast this year. As we celebrated the red, white, and blue over the past week, temperatures rose significantly for the first time in 2023. No matter how much […]
If you are looking for an unobstructed, panoramic view of the Santa Barbara South Coast, there are few better vantage points than from TV Hill. The back patio of KEYT News Channel’s newsroom has been the setting of annual Unity Telethons and countless news reporter live shots. Flames also licked up the TV Hill hillside […]
What comes to mind when you think of the month of October? Probably, the color orange. Perhaps, a pumpkin. However, for local firefighters, the arrival of fall conjures up something else orange – wildfire. The spring and fall months on Santa Barbara’s South Coast can be both the most spectacularly beautiful and the most treacherous. […]
Resiliency is built over time, in small and large ways that collectively strengthen and prepare us for whatever challenges we might face. “In Montecito, we know that wildfire will inevitably challenge us,” said Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor. “That’s why, our community has been building resiliency against wildfire threats on an ongoing basis for decades.” […]
As we enjoy the sunny, warm summer weather, Montecito firefighters are acutely aware that our landscape is becoming drier and more receptive to rapid fire growth. It’s a reality of living in this stunning place. “We all live with certain risks,” said Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor. “When it comes to living with the risk […]
Whether you are in the process of renovating your home or still in the planning and dreaming phase, your Montecito Fire Department has a project to add to your list – the vents. Hear us out. Overhauling your vents may not be nearly as satisfying as a new kitchen, but having new vents could be […]
Springtime in Montecito – the hills are green, the weather is beginning to warm, and there’s a new buzz in town. It’s the buzz of a chipping machine shredding cut branches and brush into a million tiny bits. Montecito Fire’s Neighborhood Chipping Program is back for its 13th year. It kicked off on Valentine’s Day […]
As we step into 2022, Montecito Fire would like to share with the community our 2021 Annual Report. In it, we detail our successes and challenges in all aspects of our organization, from day-to-day operations to wildfire prevention work and community engagement. We encourage you to learn more about your Montecito Fire Department by reading […]
December 4 marks four years since the Thomas Fire began its treacherous march from Santa Paula to the hills of Carpinteria and Montecito. We all remember the devastating debris flow that occurred just more than a month later. Every winter since the 1/9 Debris Flow, Montecito Fire has partnered with our local first responder and […]
The South Coast experienced its first, and hopefully only, significant wildland fire of the 2021 fire season last week. The Alisal Fire started above Refugio, along West Camino Cielo, at about 2 pm on October 11. It was propelled by powerful downcanyon winds — what are locally referred to as “sundowners.” Additionally, much of the […]
The serenity of the South Coast provides a sense of security that the next major disaster is unlikely to happen here. Yet, we only need to look a few pages back in our local history to know the potential for disaster in our quaint community is significant. Preparedness is a formidable and proactive defense to […]
Fire season across the West is off and running, already setting records and causing people to put their evacuation plans into action as flames threaten their homes. With your help, it’s a reality we are optimistic we can prevent in Montecito. Yet, we all must stay on guard for the possibility of wildfire in our […]
Thank you to everyone who cut back overgrown vegetation to make your community safer from future wildfires. Thank you for hauling your branches and brush to the curb, for welcoming our chipping crews to your neighborhood and for taking initiative to protect your home ahead of fire season. Now in its 22nd year, Montecito Fire’s […]
It’s America’s birthday party and what could be more celebratory than shooting off fireworks?! But no one will be celebrating if those fireworks spark a fire. Fourth of July in Montecito is a celebration of our great nation’s independence and, our community’s independence from all fireworks. The manufacturing, storage, sale, handling, and use of all […]
Those three little words… No. Not “I love you.” We do love you but we’re talking about: Ready! Set! Go! They are three little words that can make a life-or-death difference if you choose to take them seriously, now. What is a wildfire action plan and what does it mean for those of us in […]
High fire season is officially underway for the South Coast. It’s easy to feel worried when looking at the parched brush, dramatically lacking rainfall totals, and concerning forecasts for warmer temperatures and impending sundowner winds. However, worry is not an effective method for survival. Instead, your Montecito Fire Department is focused on educating and preparing […]